at the London Film Festival on 21 October 2007. Reception Closing the Ring attracted a mixed critical response. According to the Toronto International Film Festival, it "exemplifies the balance between the epic and the intimate that has been the hallmark of Lord Richard Attenborough's venerable career ... Attenborough traces multiple themes with ease and grace, giving his celebrated ensemble cast ample opportunity to shine". It concluded that the film is "a remarkable tale of love, loss and redemption that stands proudly among the films of one of the cinema's living legends. Deftly weaving together different eras and locales, Attenborough has produced another grand canvas about the emotional repercussions of a wartime promise." Derek Malcolm of the Evening Standard wrote that it "... is well-acted throughout and it has a romantic appeal that is not to be sneered at ..." Alan Morrison of Empire wrote "After recent disappointments, Sir Dickie Attenborough is back on better, albeit old-fashioned, form." Philip French of The Observer wrote "Woodward's script is more than a little contrived, as well as over-emphatic. But Attenborough has infused it with warmth and mature insight, and older members of the audience are likely to find it extremely moving." Laura Bushell of BBCi Films called the film a "... looping tale of love and loss in WWII which is so old fashioned in its aspirations, it's hard to see why new audiences would flock to see it." Joe Leydon in his Variety review, called the film "... decades-skipping schmaltz" and an "aggressively bittersweet yet oddly uninvolving drama." References Notes Citations Bibliography Beck, Simon D. The Aircraft-Spotter's Film and Television Companion. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2016. . External links Closing the Ring at Yahoo! Movies 2007 films 2007 romantic drama films American aviation films American romantic drama films American war drama films British aviation films British romantic drama films British war drama films Canadian aviation films Canadian romantic drama films Canadian war drama films Films about the Irish Republican Army Films directed by Richard Attenborough Films scored by Jeff Danna Films set in Northern Ireland Films set in Michigan Films set in 1941 Films set in 1944 Films set in 1991 Films shot in Hamilton, Ontario Films shot in Northern Ireland Films set in Belfast Political drama films War romance films Films about The Troubles (Northern Ireland) Films produced by Richard Attenborough English-language Canadian films 2000s English-language films 2000s American